New Position Changes

[CatsSaintsFan]

I didn't see this anywhere here but apparently Justin Jeffries moved back to OL, Ben Bates has been moved to FB and the biggie....David Jones moved to WR. I like trying Jones out at WR but I hope he doesn't stop playing CB. I'd like him to play at least in the nickel still and get some reps at WR

[johnkyblue]

I like the idea of him getting reps at WR. I don't like the idea of him not playing pass defense either. In my limited knowledge, he was our best corner.

[RV]

Jones was running 3rd team, Jeffries 4th team and Bates 5th team.

Could it be possible all these moves were made with red-shirting in mind?

Jones to offense where he might settle in next year as a RS Soph RB.

The Jeffries move was expected and since he was a likely RS why not spend the time learning the position(s) where you will end up.

Bates as already Red-shirted but Grinter has not and now we have an abundance of FB's so would be easier to sit Mo this year.

[Buddah]

David isn't a wideout..... he is best where he is andon returns, and rb is where he would thrive. he was a great rb for belfry and went up against the best. wish the staff would give him a shot... i know we are stacked back there, so he can and should keep playing cb....

[UedK]

Isn't Jones also one of the Gunners on the punt coverage team? I seem to remember him laying a few great hits on special teams. It seems he is a real head-hunter on special teams.

He is fast and talented. The coaches getting him back on offense where he is perhaps more comfortable and has more potential is IMO a good move. And with his talent, if he can spend a season testing a new position it could pay off. With our well stocked group of running backs his spending a season at wide receiver could only help.

[RedandBlackATTACK]

I believe this is Justin's first switch to the Oline. He played the D-Line at ST.X and supposedly wanted to stay there at the next level at least if you believe the recruiting stories-articles. This move might be one to watch.

Rick
C-Bus

[ImForKy]

RedandBlackATTACK wrote: I believe this is Justin's first switch to the Oline. He played the D-Line at ST.X and supposedly wanted to stay there at the next level at least if you believe the recruiting stories-articles. This move might be one to watch.

Rick
C-Bus

Not according to this. (bottom of the page)

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060815/SPORTS03/608150414/1002/SPORTS

"Freshman Justin Jeffries moved from the defensive line to offensive tackle. He played on the offensive line as a high school player at St. Xavier."

[jwade]

The David Jones saga requires some thought to understand the move.

Jones was our third-best corner at the end of last season behind Bo Smith and Antoine Huffman, both of whom are no longer with the team. So, logic would dictate that Jones would be #1 going into this fall, right? Not necessarily. You have to look at who is beating him out and what they did last year.


Trevard Lindley - injured in 2004, entered as a grayshirt in January 2005, and reshirted during the 2005 season.
Jarrell Williams - played in 5 games in 2005 but was nagged by injuries all year.
Karl Booker - spent 2005 as backup free safety after playing corner in 2004.
EJ Adams - true freshman who enrolled in January 2006.
On top of this you add true freshman Paul Warford who was playing corner yesterday (although I hope he can redshirt) and you can see the beginnings of a logjam at corner.

Thus, I submit that Jones was not our third-best corner last season but rather he was our third-best available corner at game time. That's not to disparage Jones in any way, I thought he played well at times, but he's been recruited over at his position.

Jones' liability at corner is his size, or rather lack of it. He's generously listed as 5-9 and that's awfully small for a corner in today's game where receivers are taller than ever before. Need further proof that size is a liability? Remember who was the fourth corner at the end of last season behind Jones? Shomari Moore, who is even shorter than Jones, who isequal toor further down the depth chart than Jones, and who has also been recruited over. This isn't meant to disparage Moore, either, who like Jones has some speed.

Ashas beenpointed out, Jones was an outstanding offensive player in high school. I disagree, though,that he should be moved to running back. Someone else mentioned the depth that already exists at running backand it makes no more sense burying himin the depth at running backthan it does burying him in the depth at corner. He is no faster than Alfonso Smith,therefore, he doesn't bring a dimension to the running back position that doesn't already exist.

Wide receiver, though, is a position that could dearly use more speed and Jones clearly has a lot of that. Keenan Burton, for all his assets, is not a burner. In fact, the only veteran receiver with real big-time speed is John Logan who has been disappointing at worst, and inconsistent at best. This team needs someone who can stretch the field. I'm not sure Jones is the guy to do it, but with his natural speed it makes sense to try him there. Certainly, if he can get his hands on the ball he knows what to do with it.

It will be interesting to see how this experiment plays out.

Jim

[Caveman Catfan]

Thanks for that breakdown JWade.

[RedandBlackATTACK]

Thanks for the correction ImForUK, I thought he played on the D side of the ball at X.

Rick

C-Bus

[poodoo]

It was nice to read a positive comment from Coach Heggins about Jeffries' play on the offensive line. Too, since Jeffries had played on offense in high school (and I had also read that same CJ article), the move surely makes sense, especially with the current depth on our defensive line.

In regard to David Jones, I feel good in two ways. First, the move certainly shows that Coach Brown and Coach Brooks have some confidence in the young cornerbacks' talent (although they are lacking in experience). Also, like others, I like the potential of David Jones' speed at the wide receiver position. Actually, if everyone remains healthy, I suspect we will see a lot of improvement at both the cornerback position and wide receiver position (two positions mentioned as concerns because of our losing key starters from last year's team)as the season progresses. :)